Emily Walker
In a recent announcement, Semler Scientific, a company specializing in medical devices, disclosed that it has added 871 Bitcoin (BTC) to its treasury reserves. At the same time, MicroStrategy, known for holding the largest amount of corporate BTC, has paused its usual weekly Bitcoin acquisitions.
Semler Scientific Increases Bitcoin Holdings
Amidst volatility in Bitcoin prices hovering near $100,000 due to intensified global issues related to US trade tariffs, Semler Scientific has invested $88.5 million to acquire 871 BTC, averaging $101,616 per coin.
This acquisition occurred between January 11 and February 3, as detailed in Semler’s recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The purchase was financed through the company’s recent issuance of senior convertible notes set to mature in January 2025.
Additionally, some funds were raised by liquidating a part of Semler’s minor stake in Monarch Medical Technologies. It is important to note that 303 BTC had already been obtained by the company in December 2024 as part of its broader Bitcoin investment strategy.
As of February 3, Semler Scientific’s total Bitcoin holdings amounted to 3,192 BTC, valued around $320 million at current market rates. The average cost per BTC for the company stands at $87,854, with total expenditure, including associated fees, reaching $280.4 million.
Eric Semler, Chair of Semler Scientific, commented on the company’s achievements in enhancing its BTC reserves. He expressed satisfaction regarding the convertible notes offering, which drew significantly high investor interest, and the partial liquidation of Monarch Medical shares to enable further Bitcoin purchases.
We were particularly excited by the strong demand for our convertible notes offering, and we feel good about our decision to monetize part of our Monarch Medical investment to acquire additional Bitcoin.
Following the news, shares of Semler Scientific rose 2.05%. However, considering the year-to-date (YTD) performance, the stock has decreased by 8.42%.
MicroStrategy Halts Bitcoin Purchases
On another note, MicroStrategy, a firm focused on business intelligence, has reportedly put a hold on its regular BTC acquisitions. CEO Michael Saylor mentioned that no Bitcoin was purchased last week, marking a break in their typical buying pattern.
The last known purchase from MicroStrategy occurred on January 27, when the company acquired 10,107 BTC for $1.1 billion, bringing their total holdings to 471,107 BTC.
In related developments, a Japanese company, Metaplanet, recently announced plans to raise about $745 million to bolster its Bitcoin reserves, targeting 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025 and aiming for 21,000 BTC by the close of 2026.
Additionally, the Canadian video-sharing platform Rumble made its inaugural Bitcoin purchase earlier in the year. At the moment, BTC is trading at $99,263, registering a 0.5% increase in the last 24 hours.
